Essentium Survey Reveals Additive Manufacturing Gains Traction

Essentium Inc. announces the second in a series of findings from independent global research on the current and future use of industrial 3D printing. The survey found that investments in 3D printing at an industrial-scale are paying off, with companies reporting benefits, including high part performance (46%), cost reduction (46%), and speed to part (45%). 

Changes over the last year showed 3D printing's relevance in manufacturing, according to Essentium. The AM industry stepped in to make quantities of supplies at scale to keep assembly lines moving. 2021, adds to Essentium, will mark the year that additive at scale transforms manufacturing across sectors, including aerospace, automotive, electronics manufacturing services and biomedical. 

Specifically, 98% of manufacturing executives see value in improved materials, 37% are limited by the high cost of 3D printing materials, and 24% said 3D printing materials are unreliable.

Gaining approvals for capital investments will remain a challenge throughout 2021; 20% of executives report that industrial-scale 3D printing hardware is too expensive, and 18% indicate they have too much investment in other manufacturing technology.

"Manufacturing companies have finally cracked the code of AM for full-scale production runs of hundreds of thousands of parts, and there will be no turning back," says Blake Teipel, Ph.D., CEO and co-founder, Essentium. "There is no longer any doubt whether AM investments deserve a central feature in the execution strategies of companies endeavouring to out-perform their peers. By working with our customers to drive innovation, financial, and efficiency benefits, we are helping them move forward into a leaner, more agile future enabled by additive manufacturing."